To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Economic Development Board
Staff Name and Phone Number: Katherine DiPasqua 707-565-4893
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Position Allocation Change for Broadband Staffing
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a Personnel Resolution amending the Department Allocation List for the Economic Development Board to add 1.0 full-time equivalent Department Analyst - Project and delete 1.0 full-time equivalent Administrative Aide - Project, effective March 5, 2024 through June 30, 2026.
end
Executive Summary:
This item proposes the addition of one full-time equivalent (FTE) Department Analyst - Project, and the deletion of 1.0 FTE Administrative Aide - Project in the Economic Development Board’s broadband team.
In May 2023, the Board approved the addition of an Administrative Aide - Project position allocation to support broadband availability and adoption, digital equity, and accessibility efforts. It is anticipated that the next two and a half years of broadband infrastructure project planning and advanced adoption activities will require a higher level of research, GIS mapping, data analysis and grant oversight than the Administrative Aide classification typically provides. The proposed Department Analyst - Project position would still be responsible for supporting digital access and equity but would have increased capability to manage digital equity and other broadband grants, and support infrastructure pre-project planning and project implementation activities with the North Bay North Coast Broadband Consortium (NBNCBC) and Golden State Connect Authority (GSCA).
Human Resources has reviewed EDB’s Program Change Request and concurs that the addition of a Department Analyst and deletion of an Administrative Aide would better align positions with the operational needs of the department.
Discussion:
State and federal legislation over the past two years have provided several grants focused on digital equity, typically involving resources to underwrite internet service, laptops, hotspots, and digital literacy programming for households for whom cost is a barrier. As the digital equity and broadband access efforts progress over the next two fiscal years, and as major broadband infrastructure funding sources become available, there is a need for higher level grant-related work, including data collection and analysis for grant applications as well as reporting related to grants received, as well as internal County leadership.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) plans to implement the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grant Program, created to expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment, and adoption programs nationally. The State of California has been allocated approximately $1.86 billion dollars under BEAD for which the application period is expected to open in Fall 2024. This position will be coordinating with Golden State Connect Authority (GSCA), a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) created by Rual County Representatives of California (RCRC) to expand access to affordable, high speed internet in rural areas, on the development of a competitive funding application for BEAD. This position will also act as lead on data compilation and analysis for other broadband infrastructure grant opportunities.
In addition, the role of Deputy Manager of the North Bay North Coast Broadband Consortium (Consortium) has been vacant for over a year. The Consortium, consisting of Marin, Napa, Mendocino, and Sonoma counties, was formed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2014 to oversee and manage broadband planning activities in the four-county region. A key priority for the consortium is to support member agencies’ pursuit of state and federal funding opportunities to expand broadband infrastructure and promote advanced adoption among the four counties. This position will fill that deputy role, which will allow for more representation of Sonoma County’s interests in an official manner with the Consortium.
As with the Administrative Aide - Project allocation, this position will be fully funded by a combination of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) funding. The Department Analyst position will maintain the existing term as the Administrative Aide, expiring on June 30, 2026, to align with the ARPA guidelines for expenditures.
Human Resources has reviewed and concurred with EDB’s request for the addition of a Department Analyst - Project job classification and deletion of an Administrative Analyst - Project allocation. Specific Job Duties of the proposed position will include:
• Development and execution of broadband equity and adoption programming.
• Maintaining communications and coordination among partners to support program development, including acting as the Deputy Manager of the Broadband Consortium.
• Compiling and analyzing data to support reporting of grant metrics and outcomes.
• Compiling and analyzing data and preparing GIS mapping to support planning, engineering, and development of broadband infrastructure deployment.
• Providing and coordinating technical assistance to pending broadband infrastructure projects.
• Research and identification of grant opportunities, drafting scopes of work and grant workplans, and providing support with grant writing consultant for applications.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Resilient Infrastructure
Goal: Goal 4: Implement countywide technological solutions to promote resiliency and expand community access.
Objective: Objective 1: Leverage funding and seek grants to expand communications infrastructure within the community to improve equitable access to broadband, wireless, and cell phone services.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
May 9, 2023 - Broadband Program Update
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY23-24 Adopted |
FY24-25 Projected |
FY25-26 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$125,000 |
$167,290 |
$173,980 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$125,000 |
$167,290 |
$173,980 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
$87,500 |
$167,290 |
$173,980 |
|
Fees/Other |
$37,500 |
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$125,000 |
$167,290 |
$173,980 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The 1.0 FTE Department Analyst - Project will be fully funded by a department allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) funding. A conservative estimate of the cost increase per year to change the position from an Administrative Aide to a Department Analyst is roughly $32,000 per year, bringing the total cost of the position to $466,270. There is a total of $490,000 of grant funding available to cover the cost of this position for three years; $450,000 from ARPA and $40,000 from CETF. There are sufficient appropriations in the in the FY 2023-24 Adopted Budget to cover the increased costs.
|
Staffing Impacts: |
|
|
|
|
Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
|
Administrative Aide - Project |
$5,966 - $7,249 |
|
(1.0) |
|
Department Analyst - Project |
$7,421 - $9,020 |
1.0 |
|
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
Per the recommendation from Human Resources, EDB will do a departmental promotional recruitment to fill the Department Analyst - Project position and then will delete the Administrative Analyst - Project position allocation when it is vacated.
Attachments:
Personnel Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.